Broomfield bowlers strike out to help Habitat for Humanity

Event raises estimated $8,500 for nonprofit

For more information about donating or volunteering for Flatirons Habitat for Humanity, visit flatironshabitat.org or call 303-447-3787.

The thunder of bowling balls replaced the sound of hammers, drills and saws Sunday as a crew hit the lanes Sunday to help Flatirons Habitat for Humanity at the third annual Bowl-n-Build fundraser.

Without their hammers, saws and levels, and armed only with bowling balls, Habitat volunteers and supporters rallied around the nonprofit organization dedicated to providing affordable housing.

HARD-HAT APPROACH: Carolyn Powell was all smiles despite the difficulty of bowling while wearing workman s gloves during a challenge at Bowl-n-Build.
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The event at Chipper's Lanes in Broomfield, which featured teams of bowlers and lane sponsors, as well as food provided by Carrabba's Italian Grill, raised an estimated $8,500 (about a 17 percent increase from last year) to fund operational costs for Habitat.

Money also was raised through challenges, including forcing fellow bowlers to dress as a house, spin 10 times before throwing their balls or the "granny bowl," which meant bowlers had to stand with their backs to the pins and throw through their legs. The intent was to keep opponents' scores low while ramping up the fundraising.

Greg Evans, who has been a sponsor for the past three years with The Millstone Evans Group of Raymond James, completed a challenge dressed as a house, spinning around 10 times and then rolling a 10-pound ball down the lane.

"It was great I enjoyed it, the mitts were a little hard, the spinning, I was very dizzy and the house got in the way, but it's for a great cause and I love it," he said.

Evans group has helped build three Habitat homes and is planning a team build in April.

Of helping people get their own homes, Evans said, "It's unbelievable, it's really spectacular, these people work so hard. I feel that I have had a lot of advantages, giving to those people who haven't had a lot of advantages, giving them the opportunity to make a better life, is one of the great things we can do for people."

BENDING OVER BACKWARD TO HELP: Brent Cullaton granny bowls back to his pins, ball between his legs Sunday during the Bowl-n-Build fundraiser at Chipper s Lanes.
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Rena and Jason Adamson helped at Bowl-n-Build by volunteering to sell challenges. The Adamson family live in a Habitat rehabilitated home.

Families who live in Habitat homes must put in an agreed number of work hours on their house or helping other Habitat home recipients.

"You have to put in so many hours, we did our hours between two houses. It was the best thing ever. Habitat was a godsend they changed our lives completely. We helped in the construction, we painted, dry walled, and worked with the volunteers, which is very important," Rena Adamson said.

Flatirons Habitat for Humanity serves communities within Boulder Valley School District,k including Broomfield. The Flatirons affiliate has built or rehabilitated 69 local homes and has funded 114 Habitat homes in Guatemala, Mexico, and South Africa.

The Bowl-n-Build fundraiser keeps the focus on that important work and exposing it to more people, all while throwing some fun in the mix.

Habitat board member Cheri Bellc sponsored three lanes for the second year.

"It's a fun event and I brought friends so they could get involved," she said.

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